British Coastal Forces: Two World Wars and After is the first comprehensive study on the subject. Using contemporary official material, much of which has not been used previously, and published memoirs, Norman Friedman connects the technical story of the coastal craft and their weapons and other innovations with the way they fought. In both world wars much of the technology was at the edge of what was feasible at the time. Boats incorporated considerable British innovation and benefited from important U.S. contributions, particularly in supplying high-powered engines during World War II. In contrast with larger warships, British coastal forces craft were essentially shaped by a few builders, and their part in the story is given full credit.

This book contains all the sophisticated analysis for which Friedman is so well known and a superb collection of illustrations including detailed plans by John Lambert. Like other books in this series, this one is based very heavily on contemporary official material, much of which has not been used previously – like the extensive reports of U.S naval observers, who were allowed wide access to the Royal Navy as early as 1940.